Hello, gents - Our beast of a GLK250 sets too high for my liking, plus I'd like it to be a little easier for the dogs to access. A year ago I bought a set of H&R sport springs, but haven't gotten around to installing them. Now that I'm ready to do the job, I'm starting to get concerned with some online comments about them actually lifting the car.

Is this a legit concern, and does my GLK look as if it's settled? I believe it currently has around 3" of gap. Thanks for the help.

 

You can use thinner spacers on top of the springs.

Not sure if the H&R springs will raise or lower it. Depends on what they mean by "Sport".

 

Here is my mistake , so maybe you do it differently. I only had a 1/2 coil broke , I should have done nothing! I put on Sachs shocks and Sachs springs . My ride IS rougher and hight on Rear went up maybe 3”. I was mad, I bought eBay used Glk springs and it was still up 1” so I use 2 bag of 50lb sand in back. The springs you bought, sport , probably mean it will ride like crap over bumps. If you cut them it will be worse a ride! I have a 9 yr old pit bull and with bad hip. I use a carpet covered box , a road case for “electronic sound modules”. But lowering will affect your suspension geometry and could get very expensive. You have room around the tires because tires are to small for the opening. I went bigger tires , best is get a carpet covered box the dog can use. Aftermarket suspension might ride like crap. I wasted 2000++

 

Yes! Cutting coils off makes the spring stiffer! (More pounds per inch of compression.)

I didn't have that option:

 

You wrote that you have not yet installed the H&R springs. Does that mean you still have the original GLK springs from the factory? If so, you can be certain that the springs have "settled" after at least 10 years.

 

I'm still running stock springs and the new H&R sport springs are supposed to lower the car and 1" or so front and rear.

 

Did they provide any guidance about which spacers to use? There are three or four different thicknesses available.

 

Sport to me means better handling , that is STIFFER springs , my Oem Sachs are bs , they are harder and not their Sport model. As others said , your probably 3” lower than new mb ! I bought USED mb and they are still higher after a year than what was on there. I made a 2000+ mistake trying to stay stock with comfort . Good luck 🤣. Get a carpeted dog box or ramp for 49.99.

 

"Sport" springs generally should be stiffer AND lower/shorter (to lower the center of gravity). If a sport spring is stiffer but the same uncompressed height as the standard spring (also when uncompressed) then it will raise the ride height of the vehicle above that of the standard springs - raising the center of gravity.

Also, sport springs can hurt handling and braking if you're driving on bumpy, undulating, curvy roads. You can end up losing grip at spots or even complete tire contact with the road, at times. They don't always provide better handling. Depends on the driving circumstances, among other things.

 

When lowering the rear suspension, you will need new adjustable links to correct the wheel alignment. There is a company, possibly in Australia, that makes such or at least they did.